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Columbia University - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Campus Dining

B-
Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Dining rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Average Meal Plan Cost $4402 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
Student Favorites
  • Ferris Booth Commons
  • Uris Hall

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Freshmen are required to have dining plans during their first year at Columbia, and many resent the burden of having so many meals to use. Conventional wisdom suggests that students should invest in the meal package with the fewest meals and the most points. While few sing the praises of cafeteria food, it is even rarer for students to totally disparage the grub at Columbia. For better-than-average dining, cross Broadway and head to Hewitt, Barnard’s dining hall—they accept the Columbia meal plan. For those who eat at erratic hours or those simply tired of cafeteria food, there are many on-campus cafés and snack places with a little something for everyone. JJ’s Place in the basement of John Jay doubles as a snack-grill-grocery store and late-night hangout, with a pool table, flat screens for individual tables, and an array of board games for group enjoyment.

Sophomores and upperclassmen who go off meal plans often voice regrets about not being able to have food at their fingertips, but many rectify this problem by getting a Flex Account. This allows students to use their Columbia ID to buy food without having to worry about having cash on them. One benefit of eating meals on campus with a card is that it is tax-free, so one saves a lot of money by using points to pick up a snack on campus; the cafés in Lerner Hall and Uris are among the student favorites for sandwiches, soups, or coffee breaks.

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Columbia Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at Columbia University

swimchica

'14

Art History

2.7
C+

Too Expensive for What It Is

you get a better value for better food at the many many many places around campus and in the city. No one is on the meal plan after freshman year.

May 16, 2011

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Campus Dining at Columbia University

ColumbiaLions

'14

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

4.2
A-

Dining Halls

The food really is not that bad, but having a mandatory meal plan as a freshman makes it seem awful by the end of the year. I was very content with the dining halls for the first semester, but after not wanting to waste the 15 meals Columbia makes me have a week, I eat there way more than I would like to. Can't wait until next year when don't have a meal plan though!

Apr 28, 2011

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Campus Dining at Columbia University

vr8376

'14

Materials Engineering

3.5
B

Good Options

Columbia has a nice variety of food offerings, but everything does get old after a while. I do think, however, that a lot of students here complain more than necessary... everything's pretty good. Can't say much about the meat, but they have a lot of vegetarian/vegan options.

Jan 24, 2011

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Page 1 of 6

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus dining on the following topics

Facts

24-Hour Dining None
Off-Campus Places to Use Flex Money Flex Account works at Chipotle and other select business in the vicinity
Special Options JJ’s Place is a popular snack and fast food hangout open during the week from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., closed on Friday, Saturday, opens on Sunday at 3 p.m. It is conveniently located in the basement of the John Jay residence.
Did You Know?

Furnald Hall used to have a pub (called Furnald Pub), but the first floor is now a beautiful lounge with hardwood floors and couches where a cappella groups often perform and residents study.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

Blue Java Coffee Bar
Location: Butler Library
Food: Coffee and munchies
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–12 a.m.

Café (212)
Location: Lerner Hall
Food: Salads and sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–2 a.m., Friday 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–2 a.m.

Café East
Location: Ground Floor Lerner Hall
Food: Coffee, dumplings, smoothies

Carleton Lounge
Location: Mudd Hall
Food: Coffee and munchies
Hours: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Ferris Booth Commons
Location: Lerner Hall
Food: Stir-fry, wraps, sushi
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Hartley Kosher Deli
Location: Hartley Hall
Food: Kosher
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Hewitt Dining Hall
Location: Barnard Dining Hall
Food: All-you-can-eat, kosher, vegetarian, vegan

JJ’s Place
Location: John Jay Hall
Food: Greasy grill food and other Freshman 15 delicacies
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 p.m.–4 a.m., Sunday 3 p.m.–4 a.m.

John Jay Dining Hall
Location: John Jay Hall
Food: Buffet
Hours: Daily 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–8 p.m.

Lenfest Café
Location: Jerome Greene Hall
Food: Salads and sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

Tasti D-Lite
Location: Lerner Hall
Food: Ice Cream
Hours: Monday–Thursday, Friday 12 p.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–11 p.m.

Uris Deli
Location: Uris Hall
Food: Sandwiches and coffee
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Thursday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Columbia

Name: Alexandre Millet

Hometown: Washington D.C., Geneva

Major: Economics and Computer Science

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